Provisions for collecting the tax are outlined in Tennessee statutes for home rule chartered-cities, in private acts and ordinances for those adopting the tax under private act, and in statutes and ordinances for metropolitan governments.

The hotel-motel operator generally is required to file, under oath, a monthly tax return with the authorized collector with the number of copies of the return as the collector reasonably requires. The report must include facts and information deemed reasonable to verify the tax due. The form of the report generally is developed by the authorized collector and approved by the city legislative body prior to use. The collector generally is required to audit each operator in the city at least once per year and report on the audits made on a quarterly basis to the city legislative body. See for example T.C.A. § 67-4-1406.

Taxes collected by hotel or motel operators that are not remitted to the authorized collector on or before the due dates are delinquent. An operator is liable for interest on delinquent taxes authorized by general law or private act.

It generally is the duty of every hotel and motel operator liable for collecting and paying to the city any tax imposed by the city to keep and preserve for a period of three years all records that may be necessary to determine the amount of the tax owed. The authorized collector generally may inspect the records at all reasonable times. See your private act or general law authority.